PC Alpha 18 Dev Diary!!

[Gareee]

Instead of making the zombies vanish after being killed, have them leave a low poly corpse.

Every single game I know of makes them disappear for performance reasons. Even the new World War Z game does the same thing.

 

[Quantum Blue]

Well duh, anyone born before 2000 should probably knows what fubar means. I remember when Kurt Russell coined the phrase.

Kurt Russell didn't coin the phrase. It has been used in the military for *long* before Kurt Russell did any acting.

Actually, Kalex. MM go it right on at least 2 counts:

"Coin the phrase"

1: Originally meant to create. And your response assumes this. Although that definition is now dated.

2. Literally. That movie did literally make some coin from that phrase. Don't know how much, but there are a lot of vids that link the two.

3. Current definition. Google the phrase "Coin the phrase". You will learn that it is used mostly in a ironic or sarcastic way these days. And maybe the movie was the FIRST to do that. Literally. That would certainly fit with Kurt Russell the actor, his character, and the movie.

And, it would certainly work if that is the way MadMole had intended it.

The only way to know that would have been to ask him.

 

[madmole]

Instead of making the zombies vanish after being killed, have them leave a low poly corpse.
That does not need to be some gore block. It can be non interactive (no looting) And can account for local destiny (dont spawn more than a certain number per area). And could vanish if any block nearby changes (placed or removed).

It should suffice to have one inanimate model per zombie model in a standard pose. (curled up lying face down). Non animated, low poly low res, short distance LOD models dont take a whole lot of resources.

I really dont like that sudden vanishing of corpses. And if there are gameplay problems with corpses (gore blocks, too much loot, slowing down player) just dont have them interactable. And make them removable like grass with a simple smack.

Having the remains of previous battles really improves the impression of a dynamic and alive world. It shows history of a location. Suddenly vanishing large entites do not. It feels arcady. They might as well blink before vanishing like in an oldscool sidescoller then..

(For weaker clients there can always be the option to turn persistent corpses off, as they dont have a specific gameplay effect).

But it runs faster deleting old entities and is good for game play to have a sense of urgency to harvest it. All games despawn dead stuff eventually, we just can't afford them as long.

 

[Snowydeath]

Making the corpses stay longer than necessary (to validate they're dead instead of stunned) eats up unnecessary resources that could be used elsewhere in game. Although adding the option to have persistent corpses for say 120 seconds or longer would allow people who wanna see the mess they made happy while allowing us who don't care because we're too immersed with the game or have a back story made up. (Mine is that these walking corpses are a side effect of a drug the military was experimenting with that increases combatant performance but, if they die without the antidote (given upon mission completion) their bodies disintegrate so that enemies cannot steal their new tech) or something like that. which just makes their strengths and disappearing more and more immersive. I like to make stuff up as I go so a lot of what I say is thought up on the spot (like that little story) and it helps me write the story for my RPG.

TL;DR A setting may help people who wanna see dead bodies longer, and I just make up a story that explains why they disappear and are strong asf to make the game super immersive (more so than it already is)!

 

[Trankitas]

I would opt for the body just ash with some blood after awhile. Something like:

and just leave an ash/bloody decal outline on the block it was laying on.

Just my pick is all

Thanks Thanos.

 

[Ti2xGr]

Having the remains of previous battles really improves the impression of a dynamic and alive world. It shows history of a location. Suddenly vanishing large entites do not. It feels arcady. They might as well blink before vanishing like in an oldscool sidescoller then..

I'd like to see the bodies at least show a "dissolving or melting into the ground" animation vs. just disappearing.

 

[josefdarks]

Where's Waldo? Check out the new ghillie suit and M60!

nice suit to give a scare to the zombies open something like this in the game a gas mask 40 united estates why the game missing gas mask and nothing better what to put a mask from himself estate the game I like it but this is missing good to know that are going to put armors if it's not too much to ask Mr. Madmole put gas masks finally this is apocalipse can not miss masks for all the rest his game

it is a work by hart

link https://img.letgo.com/images/b0/d0/5e/54/b0d05e54a9c37573fde7dce158807ec5.jpeg?impolicy=img_600

link https://www.google.com/search?q=gas+mask+m40&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:CUEmywrlyvTeIjhXaW8WA98dKug9_1HRB-97BOBqnPxw9coULVvbZFRJaMOTcazcSi6Jm_11v_1-CXPceG6E4GLPjRL8SoSCVdpbxYD3x0qEa_1hUPt2cEx0KhIJ6D38dEH73sER62b9ndO8hVkqEgk4Gqc_1HD1yhRG_1as3eTddWIioSCQtW9tkVElowEcr0eK-y0dmMKhIJ5NxrNxKLomYRxEhfEeTOQRQqEgn_1W_1_14Jc9x4RH1dwqcb-q3pyoSCboTgYs-NEvxEXMfiP0uBybU&tbo=u&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiyuvSAwubhAhWyAmMBHZCXDKMQ9C96BAgBEBs&biw=1360&bih=623&dpr=1#imgrc=Rjoaspk6S0WP9M:

 

[madmole]

Will this work for say modding our own music in to use with radios? I'm working on a radio mod, just have to add a little animation and do the sound editing for the current way to implement it.

Cool stuff.

 

[madmole]

Heya Madmole, couple things I wanted to ask.
1) in a video you did in the past you introduced a way to choose from a radial menu (or a blocks shape menu similar to Empyrion) where you can choose the shape you want the block to be -- versus just creating that specific block we need, like we do now. Is there any mention of this coming to light or was that idea can-x'd. I imagine it would be hard to do, maybe, with the different tiers of blocks (wood, iron, steel, concrete, etc) but thought I'd ask.

2) Any new block shapes or textures/paints in the works?

3) Any way to make the hitbox of the workbench slightly smaller so that we can paint under/behind/beside it. Right now there's no room to get the brush to paint in those areas unless you pick up the workbench, paint, replace workbench.

1, We would like to, but we'll see how things go.

2, I think so, but I don't know if players will access them.

3, Probably.

 

[khzmusik]

The problem is some other player on the same server would have access to the repaired workstations and not be able to do those same quests. To break them so some other guy can do the quest again doesn't make a lot of sense.

Others seem to have run with this idea in directions I didn't intend... which is fine, just not what I was thinking about.

For me, the primary point of the quest was to repair the broken "crafting helper" object.* So, why would it be a problem that other players couldn't do the same quest? One player could do it and everyone gets the benefits. (Even the XP if quest XP is shared, which I think it is?)

It wouldn't be much different than one player specializing, so that they craft a workbench sooner than everyone else in the group. Either way one person does it and the whole group benefits.

I do admit it may have an impact on PvP play, but only insofar as you're also giving your enemies the same advantage (working stuff at the trader) that you enjoy. I don't know if that's a "problem" so much as a tactical decision.

...Of course I'm not married to this idea, it was just a suggestion. If you decide not to implement it, for whatever reason, I won't be too upset.

* Is there a name for these that I don't know about? One general term that refers to workbenches, forges, cement mixers, etc.? Looked in the Wiki and didn't see anything.

 

[Vedui]

YAY! Music can add a lot of immersion.
Please have it play mp3s or some other easily converted format so we can swap in our own music, and allow servers to push it!

Someone made a Billboard-video modlet which was cool I had issues with changing the mp4's from the included ones, and only 1 out of the 3 worked (maybe some format mismatch somewhere?) but it was awesome to see.

It also had a version which streamed from the net, believe a youtube video or something?

So it can be done in the game, just suspect tedious to do it completely in a modelled asset without any game hookup to make it smoother. Would be cool tho, radio, tv, just allow us to pull from a url and I'd be fine

 

[Roland]

* Is there a name for these that I don't know about? One general term that refers to workbenches, forges, cement mixers, etc.? Looked in the Wiki and didn't see anything.

Workstations

 

[khzmusik]

I updated the main post:


New Dynamic Music System (DMS)

Its been in the works for a long time and the first version is finally here. We now have a dynamic music system that plays a variety of tracks and can combine them so you never hear the same song twice. Right now they only play during exploration or a non combat moments. Future updates will detect your threat level and introduce combat music. Users can disable the system entirely or define what percentage of the day music can play for and adjust the music volume.

I forgot to give you kudos for this. I'm really looking forward to it.

I can only imagine what cool things could be done if modders (or even players) could produce "music packs" for the game. But even if it won't be possible to mod, it's still a cool feature. Thank you!

EDIT:

Workstations

Thanks! I have no idea why I didn't think of that.

 

[Weazelsun]

@madmole, would it be possible to add most the decoration blocks to the traders? I know there is the creative mode, but as a person that plays on an MP server, I like to build and love being able to take joy in showing others what I've created. For example, I built this picnic area. Low priority, but that's what gives me enjoyment of the game.

https://i.imgur.com/DOfE1jQ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/azEFzn8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/SL3TJjH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/stYQBLB.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/rkHsHh4.jpg

 

[DEMMERS]

Haven't read the entire thread, just the main post. Thoughts to take into consideration. || Radio type objects around the map in buildings,etc. Plays defined music or list of tracks in an area at random volume levels. The noise has been subtle and playing for awhile, while it attracts some nearby the residents are all but deafened to the noise at this point and carry on. That is unless interacted with. || Just a thought I had while thinking of music, I'd like to be able to setup a radio in a survivor's town playing some music that was "good" before the virus struck. Like the sanity check thought line.

 

[madmole]

YAY! Music can add a lot of immersion.
Please have it play mp3s or some other easily converted format so we can swap in our own music, and allow servers to push it!

Its not like that. It plays small tracks that are in the right keys and blends them together in a way that you'll never hear the same song twice.

 

[madmole]

Actually I think it is getting better, when you ride tooooo close to a Z on the Bicycle & run out of Stamina they should be able to grab you off of it.Got my Back Injection last week, feel it comin back in the tail bone, hope it keeps me from feelin FUBAR...for a little while at least...

I hope your back and the AI can continue to improve

 

[madmole]

Making the corpses stay longer than necessary (to validate they're dead instead of stunned) eats up unnecessary resources that could be used elsewhere in game. Although adding the option to have persistent corpses for say 120 seconds or longer would allow people who wanna see the mess they made happy while allowing us who don't care because we're too immersed with the game or have a back story made up. (Mine is that these walking corpses are a side effect of a drug the military was experimenting with that increases combatant performance but, if they die without the antidote (given upon mission completion) their bodies disintegrate so that enemies cannot steal their new tech) or something like that. which just makes their strengths and disappearing more and more immersive. I like to make stuff up as I go so a lot of what I say is thought up on the spot (like that little story) and it helps me write the story for my RPG.
TL;DR A setting may help people who wanna see dead bodies longer, and I just make up a story that explains why they disappear and are strong asf to make the game super immersive (more so than it already is)!

Correct. If we did a poll that said do you want 100 zombies alive on the server, or 20 zombies alive, with thousands of dead corpses... I think we can assume the answer.

 

[madmole]

I'd like to see the bodies at least show a "dissolving or melting into the ground" animation vs. just disappearing.

We can always improve it.

 

[madmole]

Others seem to have run with this idea in directions I didn't intend... which is fine, just not what I was thinking about.
For me, the primary point of the quest was to repair the broken "crafting helper" object.* So, why would it be a problem that other players couldn't do the same quest? One player could do it and everyone gets the benefits. (Even the XP if quest XP is shared, which I think it is?)

It wouldn't be much different than one player specializing, so that they craft a workbench sooner than everyone else in the group. Either way one person does it and the whole group benefits.

I do admit it may have an impact on PvP play, but only insofar as you're also giving your enemies the same advantage (working stuff at the trader) that you enjoy. I don't know if that's a "problem" so much as a tactical decision.

...Of course I'm not married to this idea, it was just a suggestion. If you decide not to implement it, for whatever reason, I won't be too upset.

* Is there a name for these that I don't know about? One general term that refers to workbenches, forges, cement mixers, etc.? Looked in the Wiki and didn't see anything.

We are planning repair quests, they just aren't going to be at the traders workbench